Pallet for straddle type fork lift truck



June 16, 1959 c. F. FOGARTY ET Ax. 2,890,849

PALLET FOR STRADDLE TYPE FORK LIFT TRUCK Filed June l?, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT ORS CHARLES F. FOGARTY' DAVID. J. CARLSON ATTONEYS June 16, 1959 c. F. FOGARTY ET AL 2,390,849

PALLET FOR ISTRDDLE TYPE FORK LIFT TRUCK Filed June 17. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

` INVENTORS CHARLES F. FOGARTY .1. cARLsoN M DAVID 5%? ATTORNEYS ited PALLET FUR STRADDLE TYPE FGRK LIFT TRUCK Charles F. Fogarty, Adelphi, Md., and David J. Carlson, Vienna, Va.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The invention relates to improvements in load supporting and handling pallets and more particularly to an improved pallet for use with straddle type fork lift trucks.

In using straddle type fork lift trucks for lhandling loads carried by pallets of ordinary construction, the need for embracing the pallet with the truck jstraddle members prohibited stacking one pallet load against another because of the `clearance required between pallets for the straddle members. The requirement for la truck of greater width than that of the pallet precluded the placement of a pallet in a confined area and militated lagain-st maximum utilization of warehouse space.

An important object of thepresent invention is to provide a pallet so constructed as to `allow a straddle type fork life truck to place the pallet in a space only slightly wider than the pallet.

Another object is the provision of a pallet so constructed that a straddle type `fork lift truck can go `under the pallet platform with the straddles inwardly of the horizontal outlines of the pallet in any one of four ways of entry.

A further object is to provide a pallet so constructed as to permit its placement or stacking flush -against a wall, column or other pallet.

Yet another object is the provision of a pallet so constructed that it may be used with standard handling trucks with entrance from any side.

The invention also aims to provide a pallet permitting use of narrower stnaddle type fork lift trucks thus reducing the required turning radius of the truck and aisle space needed in storage areas.

Additionally the invention aims to provide pallets for use with straddle type fork lift trucks and so constructed as to provide for `automatic stacking of pallet loads in neat vertical columns.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet which is automatically centered on the lifting forks of a straddle type truck during pickup.

Other objects and many of the attendant `advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated `as the same becomes better understood by reference to Ithe following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary View in top plan showing the preferred form of pallet with a .straddle type fork lift truck associated therewith in position for lifting the pallet from one end;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the pallet shown in Fig. l with portions of the straddle type fork lift truck associated therewith in position for lifting the pallet from a side thereof;

Fig. 3 is `an inverted perspective view of the pallet shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Patent Fig. 4 is `an inverted plan view of a modified form of pallet; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are central longitudinal and transverse inverted vertical sectional views of the pallet shown in Fig. 4, taken substantially on the lines 5-5 and 6--6 thereof.

In the drawings, which for the `purpose of illustration show preferred and modified forms of the invention and wherein Asimilar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the views, the numeral 10 generally designates a str-addle type fork lift truck having a chassis including a pair of forwardly projecting parallel straddle beams 11, 12 horizontally supported in closely spaced relation to the floor, deck or other truck `supporting surface 13, as by rollers 14, 14. Aflixed to land projecting upwardly from the truck chassis is a column 15 mounting, for vertical sliding movement therealong, a lifting fork 16 having forwardly projecting horizontally disposed parallel lifter bars 17, 18.

In Figs. 1-3 is shown a wooden pallet 20 comprising a raised platform 21, oblong in plan, land formed of two side boards 22, 23 rigidly connected by cross boards 24-30. VAs may be observed from Aan inspection of Fig. l, the platform 21 is of Ia width approximating the distance straddled by the truck members 11, 12 rand of a greater length.

Symmetrically `affixed transversely of -the underside of the platform 21 one at each end and one at its center -are three substantially U-shaped leg members 31-33. An additional substantially U-shaped leg member formed of two end` structures 34a, 34b, is symmetrically affixed longitudinally of the underside of the platform. The vertical side portions of these U-shaped leg members may be formed of wooden blocks, `as for example, blocks 35, 36, which are let into notches in the side boards 22, 23. Additional blocks, yas for example, block 37, may be placed centrally of the leg `rmembers to form loadbearing spacers.

The end leg members 31, 33 are separated by a distance greater than that :straddled by the truck beams 11, 12. The span of the U-shaped leg members 31-34 is less than the distance straddled by the truck beams 11, 12 bu-t greater than the width of the lifting fork, whereby with the truck `approaching the pallet from any one of its four sides and ends, the straddles 11, 12 and lifter bars 17, 18 may bedisposed respectively outwardly and inwardly of `U-shaped leg members and the pallet lifted by elevating the fork. From the foregoing it is clear that the pallet 20 is so constructed that a straddle type fork lift truck upon approaching the pallet in any one of four ways can enter the straddles below the pallet platform and within the oblong horizontal confines of the pallet and simultaneously position the fork thereunder for lifting.

In Figs. 4-6 is shown a metal pallet 40 comprising `a raised oblong platform 41 formed of heavy rigid hardware cloth. symmetrically affixed tnansversely of the underside of the platform 41, as by welding, one at each end and one at its center are three substantially U-shaped sheet metal leg members 4244. An additional substantially U-shaped sheet metal leg member 45, formed of two end `structures 45a, 45b, is symmetrically alixed longitudinally of the underside of the platform 41, as by welding. Relatively narrow U-shaped braces 46 are provided centrally of the two end leg members 42, 44. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that portions 47, 48 of 'structures 45a, 45b form a brace at the center of the pallet. The pallet structure may be given added rigidity and strength as by pressing longitudinal corrugations 49 into the sheet metal parts and by aixing to the underside of the hardware cloth of I 3 the platform 41 additional rods 50 along theY side margins of the platform and past points of attachment of the leg members thereto.

The dimensions ofthe metal pallet components -preferably correspond to those ofV similar components of the wooden pallet `shown in Figs. 1-3 so lthat the same benefits will accrue from ithe use of a straddle type fork lift truck" with either the Wooden or metal pallets hereinbefore described. j

Y Obviously many modifications tandvariations ofthe present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise tlnan as specifically described.

What is claimed is: v

1. A material handling pallet comprising a platform formed by a plurality of transversely extending members anda longitudinally extending side member secured to bers, a plurality of U-shaped members in spaced relation with respect to each other and having a base element provided with terminal leg elements each in engagement with at least two of said side members and orthogonally disposed with respect to said undulated members, an additional Uashaped member. having a base portion provided with terminal legs each in engagement with at least two of said side members and positioned centrally between said plurality of U-shaped members and the undulated members, said legs of said U-shaped and the undulated members Isupporting said platform in spaced relation with respectto said base portions and the base element and cooperating to provide at least four transversely and n: longitudinally disposedpassageways on the underside of the underside of each of said plurality of tnansversely U-shaped longitudinally extending leg elements extended between and carried by at least two of said 'transversely extending members, said leg elements being disposed on opposite sides of said additional U-shaped leg member and each having an yadditional portion terminating at each of Vsaid outermost members and secured to the U-shaped leg member carried thereby, said U-:shaped leg members, pair of centrally disposed leg elements and said additional portion thereof being disposed on the platform in such =a manner with respect to each other and the side members as to provide at least four transversely and longitudinally extending passageways on the underside of said platform. v

2. A pallet comprising a platform formed of a plurality of cross members joined yat the terminal `ends the platform. y

3. A material handling pallet for use with la lift truck Ihaving two load-bearing Wheels positioned subjacen-t and in spaced relation with respect to two lifting forks and comprising an upper platform composed of hardware cloth having a plurality of transversely and longitudinally -disposed rods, `a U-sh'aped leg member disposed on each end of the platform and carried by said longitudinal rods, said U-shaped members extending transversely vacross the platform and terminating in spaced relation with respect to the outermost of said longitudinally disposed rods, an additional U-shaped leg member carried by said longitudinal rods and centrally disposed between the U-shaped members on said ends of the platform and terminating in spaced relation with respect to the outermost of said longitudinally disposed rods, a pair of centrally disposed U-shaped longitudinally extending leg elements carried by said rods, said leg elements being disposed on opposite sides of said additional U-shaped leg member, said U-shaped leg member, `additional and on the underside thereof by a plurality of side f- :portion and mutuallyY spaced symmetrically disposed terminal legs formed therewith each of said legs in engagement with and secured to at least one of said cross mem- U-shaped leg member and pair of centrally disposed leg elements being disposed and spaced from the platform in such a manner as to provide two lifting fork passage- Ways and two bearing wheel passageways which extend transversely and longitudinally along the underside of the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patentV UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,738 Turner June 7, 1930- 2,463,587 Arthur Mar. 8, 1949 2,503,022, Benoist Apr. 4, 1950 2,544,743 Vrabcak Mar. 13, 1951 2,634,931 Weitzel Apr. 14, 1953 2,639,112 Cushman May 19, 1953 

